Adjustable finger rings



Dec. 7, 1965 J. NEWMAN 3,221,514

ADJUSTABLE FINGER RINGS Filed Feb. 28, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 DCC. 7, NEWMAN ADJUSTABLE FINGER RINGS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 28, 1964 United States Patent O 3,221,514 ADJJUSTABLE FINGER RINGS Jacob Newman, 68 Ralph Court, Queensway, Bayswater, London, England Filed Feb. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 348,248 2 Claims. (fill. 63-15.7)

This is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 859,512, led December 14, 1959, now abandoned.

This invention concerns finger rings and in particular rings which are constructed so as to be capable of opening from a latch-connected joint, whereby a close tting of the ring can be obtained on that section of the finger on which it is worn, whilst the ring can be removed readily by releasing the latch to open same to provide suiiicient looseness to slip readily over the finger joint.

An object of the present invention is to provide a ring in which there is no possibility of accidental opening, but which enables the latch to be opened easily. Another object is to provide a ring in which gem settings can be worked on or changed without any risk of the work operations damaging the delicate latch mechanism, Whilst a further object is to provide a construction of latch element and associated parts which is suiliciently strong to stand up to normal usage. A further object of the in vention is to provide a construction of ring which is readily adjustable in size in that it can be increased in effective diameter within limits. This is of particular advantage in that a person purchasing a ring can obtain a tting enabling same to be worn on different fingers and also that a jeweler need not carry a large stock of identical rings in diierent sizes.

According to this invention there is provided a finger ring which comprises in combination an arcuate intermediate section, a first arcuate side section pivoted to one end of the intermediate section, a second arcuate side section pivoted to the other end of the intermediate section, an arcuate bridging member concentric with the centre of the ring connected across the abutting free ends of the side sections, means for preventing separation of the ends of the arcuate bridging member from the irst and second side sections when the ring is expanded by swinging said side sections about their ends p ivoted to said intermediate section, a curved latch bar secured to one of the side sections and also concentric with the centre of the ring, a locking nose on said latch bar in contact with the arcuate bridging member, and a catch member on one of said sections engageable by the locking nose on the latch bar for yieldingly retaining the free ends of the side sections abutted together to maintain the ring closed.

To enable the invention to be clearly understood three embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view of the ring, partly in section, and in an opened position.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing how the latched together side sections of the ring can be made of tubular form, and

FIGURES 4 and 5 are similar views to FIGURE 1 showing the ring in opened and closed positions respectively and in which the latch and bridge parts are duplicated.

Referring rst to FIGURES 1 and 2, the ring is formed from three arcuate sections, viz. two side sections 1l), 11, and an intermediate section 12, which can all be of approximately the same length, or the intermediate section shorter than the side sections. Said intermediate section is pivoted at each end to one of the side sections in any suitable way, such as by a tongue and groove and pivot pin connection 13 as shown so as to be capable of opening movement, which movement can be limited for example by suitable shoulder abutment on the parts.

If the ring is set, then it is the intermediate section which carries the jewels or is otherwise decorative. It will be noted that this intermediate section can be separated easily, thus allowing for changing, or repair to the jewels or other work so that large stocks of various shaped rings do not have to be carried.

The adjacent ends of the side sections are arranged to slide together and latch. Said sections are slotted and the one or first section 10 is provided with a forwardly projecting arcuate bridge part 14 in the form of a spring blade. The other or second end section 11 has a tunnel 15 therein, which receives this bridge part, the tunnel being open by a slot 16 at its inner surface except for an extreme end part 17, the free extremity of the bridge part having a small projection 18 on its outer surface which runs in the open slot 16. The section 1t) also carries an arcuate latch bar 19.

The latch bar is outside the bridge part 14 and projects forwardly a distance less than the projection of the bridge part so that a nose 2t) of the latch bar is clear of the said other end part when the parts are in the open limit. The extremity of the one side section 10 has a slot or groove 21 in its outer surface in which is a part of the latch bar, whilst the extremity of the other side section 11 also has an outer slot or groove 22, and into this latter the said bar enters when the ring is closed, said bar having the nose 20 at its front end which, except when the ring is closed, rests on the top of the bridge part. The nose co-operates with a catch element carried by the other side part, this catch element consisting of a pin or bar 23 near the open extremity of and across the slot or groove 22.

When the ring is open, the latch bar 19 is clear of the extremity of the other section 11, and the open limit is defined by the engagement of the stop 18 and the catch element 23. On closing, the bridge part slides in the tunnel in the end of the other section, until the nose 20 of the latch bar meets the forward edge of the catch element 23. Further closing pressure results in the latch bar flexing outwardly due to its inherent resilience so that the nose rides over the catch bar, and snaps down nally into the top slot 22 of the other end part. When locked, a substantially flat unbroken outer surface is presented.

When it is desired to open the ring, opposite outward pressure is applied to the side sections. The shaping of the nose and catch element co-operating surfaces is such that when such pressure is suiicient, the nose rides up the catch element 23, so permitting opening.

The nose part 20 is shaped so that after latching, the `sections can be separated merely by pulling same apart. However, if desired the nose part and catch maybe shaped to prevent opening -rnerely by pulling, in which case the front end of the latch bar 19 and the slot 22 are shaped to enable a linger nail to be placed under the said end ot the latch bar, when the sections are closed, so that said bar can be raised against its resilience to release the catch element. Thus, a transverse groove may be provided in the outer surface of the other or second end section 11 at the end of the slot 22, to enable the latch bar to be raised.

The arrangement illustrated by FIGURE 3 is very similar to that described with reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, except that the `side sections 10' and 11 are made tubular so that the portion of the bridge part 14 within the part 10 is concealed and likewise the radially inwardly directed mouth of the slot 16 in the part 11 is closed whereby the inner surface of the ring is completely closed.

When the ring is closed the latch `bar 19 engages in a slot 11a in the side section 11 with the nose 20 of the latch engaged with the catch 23.

Referring lastly to FIGURES 4 and 5, the arrangement here is also very similar to that of the two previous embodiments except that in elect the latch and bridging parts are duplicated. Thus, as shown, the side sections 10a and 11b are made tubular and each accommodates a locking nose 24 provided one at each end of an arcuate latch bar 25 formed `centrally between its ends with a portion 26 which is integral with or connected to a -bridge part 27 which at either side of the part 26 extends into the tubular side sections 10a and 11b of the ring and which are provided at their extremities with projections 28 which, when the ring is opened, abut catch elements 29 thereby limiting the distance the sections lita and 11b can be opened apart and also preventing Icomplete separation of the ends of the bridge part from said sections. The noses 24 of the latch bar 2S snap over the catch elements 29 when the sections 10a and 11b are closed as shown in FIGURE 4. The side sections 10a and 11b .are formed respectively with slots 13b and 11e in which the ends of the latch 25 can engage. Wit-h this last embodiment the ring can be fully opened by releasing -both locking noses 2d from their catches 29, or half opened by only releasing one nose 24 from its catch 29.

In all embodiments provision may be made for the ring to be opened to different extents, e.g. by arranging for a stop to engage successively in notches, so that the diametrical size of the ring can be easily adjusted.

As the catch member and the bridging member lie one above the other, this arrangement can be used for rings of small widths and, as no special clearance for the springy movement of the catch member is necessary, the ring can also be rather thin. On rings with decorations or gems around its circumference this whole connection can be placed `within very small setting-rings on -both sides of the connecting means. Besides these advantages the new construction of this invention improves also the guidance during the opening and makes it possible to provide additional stops, so that, within certain limits, the ring is easily adjustable in its diametrical size.

With known arrangements it is impossible to keep the thickness or width of a ring down to a minimum, as can be done with this invention, `because the parts of the catch mechanism of known arrangements are located side by side and so occupy much more space.

I claim:

1. An adjustable nger ring comprising in combination an arcuate intermediate section, a rst tubular arcuate side section pivoted to one end of the intermediate section, a second tubular arcuate -side section pivoted to the other end of the intermediate section, a catch member in each of the said tubular side sections, a tunnel radially inwardly of each of said catch members, an arcuate bridging member concentric with the center of the ring and having its ends extending into both the tubular side sections and slidable through the tunnels in the catch member, projection means on the ends of said -bridging member which abut said catch members when the rst and second side sections are opened apart to prevent separation of the 'bridging member from said sections an-d to limit the amount of opening of the sections, an arcuate resilient latch bar xedly connected centrally of its length to said bridging member and provided at its ends with radially inwardly projecting locking nose means adapted respectively to yieldingly engage one of said catch members in one of said sections and to releasably retain the free ends of the side sections abutted together to maintain the ring closed.

2. An adjustable ringer ring comprising in combination an arcuate intermediate section, a first tubular arcuate side section, pivoted to one end of the intermediate section, a second tubular arcuate side section pivoted to the other end of the intermediate section, an arcuate bridging member concentric with the center of the ring and having a portion thereot` anchored inside the first tubular side section, a rigid transverse catch member at the free end of the second tubular arcuate side section dividing the internal cross section surface area of the tube into two unequal parts and into the greater of which parts t-he remaining portion of the bridging member is slidable, a projection means on the portion of the 'bridging member slidable into said second tubular side section which coacts 'with the said catch mem-ber and prevents separation of the bridging member from said second tubular arcuate side section when said ring is in open position, a curved resilient latch bar means concentric with the center of the ring and having a radially inwardly directed curved nose, said latch bar means beingr xedly secured to said rst tubular side section, said second tubular arcuate side sec tion being provided at the outer surface of its free end with an oblong slot overlying said transverse catch member; said latch bar means penetrating into said slot and filling the latter and gripping with its curved nose over and behind said catch member when said two arcuate side sections are closed at their junction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 134,735 l1/1873 Cornell 63-7 1,003,696 9/1911 Briggs 63-l5.7 X 1,711,985 5/1929 Bigney 63-5 X 1,997,724 4/1935 Franklin 63 15.65 X '2,771,753 11/1956 Sallan 63-l5.7

FOREIGN PATENTS 601 1881 Great Britain.

18,619 1904 Great Britain.

22,358 1911 Great Britain.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. F. B. SHAY, Assistant Examiner, 

2. AN ADJUSTABLE FINGER RING COMPRISING IN COMBINATION AN ARCUATE INTERMEDIATE SECTION, A FIRST TUBULAR ARCUATE SIDE SECTION, PIVOTED TO ONE END OF THE INTERMEDIATE SECTION, A SECOND TUBULAR ARCUATE SIDE SECTION PIVOTED TO THE OTHER END OF THE INTERMEDIATE SECTION, AN ARCUATE BRIDGING MEMBER CONCENTRIC WITH THE CENTER OF THE RING AND HAVING A PORTION THEREOF ANCHORED INSIDE THE FIRST TUBULAR SIDE SECTION, A RIGID TRANSVERSE CATCH MEMBER AT THE FREE END OF THE SECOND TUBULAR ARCUATE SIDE PORTION DIVIDING THE INTERNAL CROSS SECTION SURFACE AREA OF THE TUBE INTO TWO UNEQUAL PARTS AND INTO THE GREATER OF WHICH PARTS THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE BRIDGING MEMBER IS SLIDABLE, A PROJECTION MEANS ON THE PORTION OF THE BRIDGING MEMBER SLIDABLE INTO SAID SECOND TUBULAR SIDE SECTION WHICH COACTS WITH THE SAID CATCH MEMBER AND PREVENTS SEPARATION OF THE BRIDGING MEMBER FROM SAID SECOND TUBULAR ARCUATE SIDE SECTION WHEN SAID RING IS IN OPEN POSITION, A CURVED RESILIENT LATCH BAR MEANS CONCENTRIC WITH THE CENTER OF THE RING AND HAVING A RADIALLY INWARDLY DIRECTED CURVED NOSE, SAID LATCH BAR MEANS BEING FIXEDLY SECURED TO SAID FIRST TUBULAR SIDE SECTION, SAID SECOND TUBULAR ARCUATE SIDE SECTION BEING PROVIDED AT THE OUTER SURFACE OF ITS FREE END WITH AN ABLONG SLOT OVERLYING SAID TRANSVERSE CATCH MEMBER; SAID LATCH BAR MEANS PENETRATING INTO SAID SLOT AND FILLING THE LATTER AND GRIPPING WITH ITS CURVED NOSE OVER AND BEHIND SAID CATCH MEMBER WHEN SAID TWO ARCUATE SIDE SECTIONS ARE CLOSED AT THEIR JUNCTION. 